Senethro
Overlord
Given the success of the Steam sales I suspect they'll gain more by the ability to do free weekends and similar through Steam than is lost by boycotters.
Is the Steam DRM just a one-time verification check? Or is it much more?
- Thread starter mossmonster
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Schuesseled
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I installed CIV 4 via steam, I also have hard copies brought from stores but when gettign civilisation conolisation I decided to simply buy all 4 of the Civ 4 series and download them all directly, a very effective system, I have re-installed over steam like 4 times due to needing to re-install windows or from uninstalling the game when I wasn't playing it. So the beauty of steam is that their isn't any of this blizzard install restrictions, which may of been where the game went like so many other recent new games. There is nothing wrong with using steam, it is a GREAT way to download/buy/play games online and it is completely free. Infact you usually find better prices on steam than you will find in shops. As well as bonus content in some cases, like on Civ 5.
As for modding, on Civ 4, I can run any mod I like, steam doesn't interefere in any way. Why would this be any different in Civ 5, infact Civ 5's main features are the ease for modders and players who wish to use mods. So I really am not sure what your banging on about Thread creator.
Oh and one of your points is most certainly wrong, If you install steam and use it to buy and download the game you can after this remove steam from your computer. Yes this will also remove Civ 5. But this is not what you said, you said that you wouldnt be able to remove steam, this is not true. If you want to buy Civ 5 through steam do so, if you dont go buy it at the store. I assume it will go to stores, If it doesn't well then, use steam and buy Civ 5 or don't its entirely your choice. If the game creators wish to only sell via 1 method, say steam then that is their pro-gative, it is thier game after all and not yours. Obviously if 99% of people wanting the game don't want to have steam then they will change thier mind about not distributing on disk when thier revenues are nothing. Personally I think promoting downloading is a great way to continue to build our Internet Industry. Cyber Space, Broadband, we need more of this. Why go to a shop to buy a game when it can be done from the comfort of your PC chair.
But anyway, Steam isn't overly computer intensive, gives good multiplayer servers, good download severs, good speeds, updates all the time, gives a great community on steam, - you can even chat to friends whilst playing your new Civ 5 game, also its Vac secuirty will ensure or try to atleast that people who cheat are jkept out from normal gamers wanting a fair playing field.
As for modding, on Civ 4, I can run any mod I like, steam doesn't interefere in any way. Why would this be any different in Civ 5, infact Civ 5's main features are the ease for modders and players who wish to use mods. So I really am not sure what your banging on about Thread creator.
Oh and one of your points is most certainly wrong, If you install steam and use it to buy and download the game you can after this remove steam from your computer. Yes this will also remove Civ 5. But this is not what you said, you said that you wouldnt be able to remove steam, this is not true. If you want to buy Civ 5 through steam do so, if you dont go buy it at the store. I assume it will go to stores, If it doesn't well then, use steam and buy Civ 5 or don't its entirely your choice. If the game creators wish to only sell via 1 method, say steam then that is their pro-gative, it is thier game after all and not yours. Obviously if 99% of people wanting the game don't want to have steam then they will change thier mind about not distributing on disk when thier revenues are nothing. Personally I think promoting downloading is a great way to continue to build our Internet Industry. Cyber Space, Broadband, we need more of this. Why go to a shop to buy a game when it can be done from the comfort of your PC chair.
But anyway, Steam isn't overly computer intensive, gives good multiplayer servers, good download severs, good speeds, updates all the time, gives a great community on steam, - you can even chat to friends whilst playing your new Civ 5 game, also its Vac secuirty will ensure or try to atleast that people who cheat are jkept out from normal gamers wanting a fair playing field.
I doubt Civ will get a free weekend. That's usually just bigtime MP games.
As for Steam sales- if you're seeing deep sales 1-2 months into the game's release, it's in trouble. It will take a while.
Generally Steam sales are a tiny bit early on, then deep discounts later to gen up the max revenue. All the DD services do this, not just Steam.
Steam and GG provide better sales then Impulse in general though.
tom2050
Deity
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Interesting news: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/031910-did-valve-ban-ubisoft-games.html
Did Valve Ban Ubisoft Games from Steam Over DRM?
Did Valve Ban Ubisoft Games from Steam Over DRM?
the343danny
Emperor
I would say another of the reasons people pirate which is big enough that it deserves to be mentioned is that they pirate the games simply because they dont really want the game. This is kind of important because Chalks said 1.7 million downloads, but that doesnt at all mean loss of profit worth 1.7 million copies of Spore. Spore was garbage, but it was very highly anticipated. People who pirated the game probably heard that it was a huge disappointment, but because they have been wanting the game for so long, they would download it just to try. If they couldn't download it, they simply would not have bought it.
Akka
Moody old mage.
That's the obvious truth that is always "forgotten" when the industry try to paint itself as a poor victim of evil pirates.
Commander Bello
Say No 2 Net Validations
Senethro
Overlord
Hmmmm, yes, an online distribution service checking to see if an internet connection is present sure is unusual and worthy of suspicion.
Senethro
Overlord
It hasn't been told to go into offline mode yet. It checks for internet and on finding none asks "start in offline mode?".
Commander Bello
Say No 2 Net Validations
This is just not true and since you have read Ori's statements you are knowing that it is not true.
Senethro
Overlord
Read it again. Ori didn't make it clear in what order he did things. He said things happened in the first minute of setting Steam into Offline mode but not whether they continued or what it was all about.
Commander Bello
Say No 2 Net Validations
Oh, he didn't make it clear?
(...)
One thing I noticed because I left its firewall permissions temporary: after setting it to offline mode, restarting the computer (multiple times because it at first wouldn't stick to the setting disallowing startup on pc startup) and starting the game: it would request permissions to access the internet and call home. Refusal didn't keep the game from starting, but If I had set the permissions permanently I wouldn't even have noticed that "offline mode" was calling home with an internet connection active.
For me, this is a pretty clear description what was done in which order.
Senethro
Overlord
And my understanding as a regular user of Steam is that it ALWAYS flashes a dialogue on opening asking if you want online or offline mode. Given there is always a dialogue box, why shouldn't there always be a check or a small one off bout of activity?
He never said there shouldn't be, Senethro. Ori's position was that 2K should be upfront about what amount of connectivity Steam uses. You are making the argument go around in circles. 
It is reasonable to establish a brief connection with the server but so then we should be told that, and not the opposite. 
It is reasonable to establish a brief connection with the server but so then we should be told that, and not the opposite.
tom2050
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Not only that, but while in offline mode, the Steam didn't only call home, but transferred data as well. @Senethro: We are all sure Steam is semi-okay at what it does, but this shows that 2K's knowledge of Steam is either spun purposely, or those programmers didn't know. It was mentioned that Valve, although correct in their statements, have also partially distorted the reality of what it does.
In this case, offline mode means it is not offline, but still regularly communicates with the servers. Therefore, what is the real difference between offline and online mode? Common sense would say "not a whole lot".
In this case, offline mode means it is not offline, but still regularly communicates with the servers. Therefore, what is the real difference between offline and online mode? Common sense would say "not a whole lot".
I think common sense would say there is a difference between online and offline mode.
In offline mode Steam is making minimal contact and presumably doing something Valve considers to be of high priority e.g. something security related. Valve just happens to cunningly call it "offline" mode instead of nearly-offline mode, probably to make life simpler for them. At the bare minimum I reckon they'd use this opportunity to lock you from your account if they had a legal reason to do so. I also wouldn't mind betting something in this packet transfer is about possible updates to Steam.
What I'm wondering is, is there conclusive evidence that if your Steam client is permanently in offline mode it will never try to update itself? All I've seen so far is vague statements one way or the other. I appreciate it's not a simple question because very few people would choose to leave their Steam client offline for such extended periods.
tom2050
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This is not what they say happens, at least according to "them", which is the whole point:
So why the untruth (or unknowledge, whichever it may be) on 2K and Valve's part? Furthermore, what you suggested is what happens in online mode, so again; what's the difference?
It's been shown, not only by Ori, that Steam does reconnect to the Steam Network every time you wish to play in offline mode.
Oh, Liz 2K, wherever you are...? Perhaps Valve should hire a Propaganda Relations <cough> I mean Public Relations agent also.
Other notes of interest:
Chalks
The blue pieces
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Really?
So if my computer has no internet access... steam reconnects to the steam network when I play my names?
Man. I need to get in on this quantum connectionless internet thingy. I could be a rich guy if I work out how they're connecting to the steam network without an internet connection!
Xiao Xiong
Prince
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